a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States

submarine, undersea(verb)

beneath the surface of the sea

submarine(verb)

move forward or under in a sliding motion

"The child was injured when he submarined under the safety belt of the car"

submarine(verb)

throw with an underhand motion

submarine(verb)

bring down with a blow to the legs

submarine(verb)

control a submarine

submarine(verb)

attack by submarine

"The Germans submarined the Allies"

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Submarine(n.)

A submarine sandwich.

Submarine(n.)

A submarine boat; a ship that can travel under the surface of the water. Most such ships are ships of war, as part of a navy, but submarines are also used for oceanic research. Also called sub and (from the German U-Boot) U-boat. esp., Nav., a submarine torpedo boat; -- called specif. submergible submarine when capable of operating at various depths and of traveling considerable distances under water, and submersible submarine when capable of being only partly submerged, i.e., so that the conning tower, etc., is still above water. The latter type and most of the former type are submerged as desired by regulating the amount of water admitted to the ballast tanks and sink on an even keel; some of the former type effect submersion while under way by means of horizontal rudders, in some cases also with admission of water to the ballast tanks.

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

submarine(Noun)

A boat that can go underwater.

submarine(Noun)

A kind of sandwich made in a long loaf of bread.

submarine(Noun)

Pitch delivered with an underhand motion.

submarine(Verb)

To operate or serve on a submarine

submarine(Verb)

To torpedo; to destroy with a sudden sneak attack

submarine(Adjective)

Under water.

submarine(Adjective)

Of something hidden or undisclosed, e.g. submarine patent.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Submarine(adj)

being, acting, or growing, under water in the sea; as, submarine navigators; submarine plants

Submarine(noun)

a submarine plant or animal

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term most commonly refers to a large, crewed, autonomous vessel. It is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely operated vehicles and robots, as well as medium-sized or smaller vessels, such as the midget submarine and the wet sub.
Used as an adjective in phrases such as submarine cable, "submarine" means "under the sea". The noun submarine evolved as a shortened form of submarine boat. For reasons of naval tradition, submarines are usually referred to as "boats" rather than as "ships", regardless of their size.
Although experimental submarines had been built before, submarine design took off during the 19th century, and they were adopted by several navies. Submarines were first widely used during World War I, and now figure in many large navies. Military usage includes attacking enemy surface ships or submarines, aircraft carrier protection, blockade running, ballistic missile submarines as part of a nuclear strike force, reconnaissance, conventional land attack, and covert insertion of special forces. Civilian uses for submarines include marine science, salvage, exploration and facility inspection/maintenance. Submarines can also be modified to perform more specialized functions such as search-and-rescue missions or undersea cable repair. Submarines are also used in tourism, and for undersea archaeology.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Submarine

sub-ma-rēn′, adj. under, or in, the sea.—Submarine boat, one capable of being propelled under water, esp. for carrying and firing torpedoes.—Submarine mine, a mass of explosives sunk in the sea.